Tag: audiobooks

Celebrate Earth Day With Audiobooks That Educate and Entertain

April 22, 2025

This year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22. On Spotify, listeners can explore a world of stories about our planet in our Everything Earth Day hub, which features curated audiobook playlists for all ages and interests. We tapped our editors to share five of their favorite picks.

Zonia’s Rain Forest 

By Juana Martinez-Neal
Narrated by Sisa Quispe and Cinthya Gonzales Perez

Zonia’s Rain Forest takes young readers into the wonders of the Amazon rainforest alongside Zonia, an Asháninka girl. Every morning, the rainforest calls to Zonia…but one morning, it calls to her in a troubled voice. How will Zonia answer?

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year

By Margaret Renkl
Narrated by Margaret Renkl

Bestselling author Margaret Renkl charts the creatures and plants found in her own backyard over the course of a year, weaving a tale of joy in the pleasures of the natural world and grief over each season’s ending. Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of human life.

The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions

By Greta Thunberg
Narrated by Amelia Stubberfield, Greta Thunberg, Nicholas Khan, and Olivia Forrest

Greta Thunberg, known around the world for her climate activism, shares advice to help secure a safe future for life on Earth. Thunberg weaves her own story with the wisdom of more than 100 experts—from geophysicists to economists to philosophers—to equip us with the knowledge we need to combat climate disaster.

Black Flora: Inspiring Profiles of Floriculture’s New Vanguard

By Teresa Speight
Narrated by Lynnette R. Freeman

Black Flora is the first book to feature profiles of contemporary Black experts innovating in the world of flowers. Longtime gardener Teresa Speight unearths the floral legacies of the past and present, providing inspiration for younger generations of plant lovers seeking examples of successful Black floral artists and entrepreneurs.

Migrations: A Novel 

By Charlotte McConaghy
Narrated by Barrie Kreinik

Migrations is an ode to a disappearing world with Franny Stone as its center, as she arrives in Greenland with nothing but her research gear. Her singular purpose is to follow the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their final migration to Antarctica. But when Franny’s dark secrets catch up with her, how much is she willing to risk for one more chance at redemption?

Looking for more inspiring tales? Head to our Everything Earth Day hub.

Spotify Expands Its Audiobooks Offering To Listeners In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein

April 15, 2025

As the world’s most popular audio-streaming subscription service, Spotify is committed to expanding the audiobook industry, enabling more listeners than ever to discover and engage, and paving the way for future innovation.

We saw early adoption of podcasts and audiobooks in Germany, with labels and fans embracing both formats. Recognizing this potential, we spoke to our users and began innovating and building podcasts globally. 

There’s already a strong appetite for audiobooks across German-speaking markets. With millions of people enjoying audiobooks on Spotify in Germany, we’re excited to enhance this experience by providing a Premium experience for our users of Spotify Individual and Duo or Family Plan Managers.

Today we’re launching an enhanced audiobooks offering in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Eligible Premium listeners in these markets will have access to 350,000 audiobooks, including titles in German, French, and Italian.

Eligible Premium subscribers will receive 12 hours of audiobook listening each month, and additional 10-hour allocations can be purchased as needed from €9.99. Listeners without an eligible Premium subscription will be able to pay to unlock access to individual audiobook titles a la carte. 

Delivering a better listening experience 

In Germany, there’s a rich tradition of storytelling and “Hörspiele” (audio plays), which has paved the way for the popularity of audiobooks. Today, audiobooks are a significant part of the cultural landscape, preserving and promoting literature in a modern format. 

With Audiobooks in Premium, users will find a host of new benefits that will make the listening experience even better. Along with an expanded catalog—which includes titles like Cornelia Funke’s Tintenherz, Caroline Wahl’s 22 Bahnen, and Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing—listeners can:

  • Search more easily via our dedicated Audiobooks tab.
  • Explore recommendations from our Home feed.
  • Access our hub to discover top titles curated by our editorial experts. 
  • Save their progress in an audiobook, ensuring they can easily pick up where they left off during their next listening session. 
  • Pre-save upcoming releases from their favorite authors with Countdown Pages.
  • Use our Spotify Sleep Timer so they don’t lose their place.

“We are turning up the volume on where people are already listening, and getting even more great stories to them with this new catalog and listening experience. In the markets where we have already launched, we’ve already accelerated growth for the audiobook business, and that’s what we’re committed to doing here in Germany and across Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein,” said David Kaefer, VP Audiobooks Business.

Find your next great read by browsing the Audiobooks hub on Spotify.

*Terms apply. 12 hours/month from our subscriber catalog available to Individual and Duo or Family Plan Managers only.

Spotify Invests €1 Million To Help Authors and Publishers Produce More Audiobooks

April 11, 2025

Since entering the audiobooks space in 2022, Spotify has positively impacted the industry, paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to rights holders on an annualized basis. In our more mature markets, audiobooks have also become one of the biggest sources of revenue growth for publishers. 

Our data shows a significant increase in unique listeners who are discovering the magic of audiobooks for the first time via Spotify. By driving discovery and bringing in new audiences, we’re increasing overall audiobook consumption, which provides another avenue of growing revenue for authors and publishers. 

Since launching Audiobooks in France and Benelux last October, we’ve seen an average month-over-month growth of 12% in listeners and listening hours. In France, we are continuing to bring a younger, more diverse audience to audiobooks, with nearly 60% of listeners aged 18 to 34 accounting for over half of all listening hours. 

In order to continue to build opportunities for authors and publishers, especially in countries where the audiobook market isn’t yet mature, we want to support audiobook production. Today  we are announcing that we’re investing €1 million to increase the production of audiobooks in non-English languages, starting with French and Dutch.

This investment reinforces our desire to grow the market for authors and publishers, particularly in markets where audiobooks are still growing as a format, while improving the catalog and consumer experience.

“Our aim is to help create long-term value for the publishing industry and build new revenue streams for partners. To do that we must attract new audiences whilst also retaining existing book lovers, and audiobooks can play a key role in that. But at the heart of that must be great books. With less than 3% of French-language books available in audio format today, this is a great opportunity to help publishers and authors find new readers,” said Jérémy Amsellem, Audiobooks Partnerships and Licensing Manager for Europe.

Helping authors thrive

High production costs and slow market adoption have limited the number of non-English audiobooks available to listeners. In France, for example, there are approximately 750,000 titles in French, but approximately 20,000 audiobooks. In the Netherlands, there are approximately 15,000 audiobooks in Dutch from a total physical catalogue of 209,000.

Spotify believes in the power of human narration, and we will continue to work with partners and the narrator community to bring these titles to fans in French and Dutch languages. But we will also offer Digital Voice Narration as part of this investment to help make audiobook production more cost-effective for those partners who require a lower barrier to entry. For listeners, AI-narrated titles will be clearly identified in the description with “this audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.”

Finally, we know authors and publishers want to reach the widest possible audience. That’s why all cofunded audiobooks will be nonexclusive and made available on Spotify, with the option to host on any other major platform.

We want to create the best possible experience for authors, publishers, and listeners, and this investment marks another important steptoward introducing audiobooks to new audiences, diversifying our catalog, and providing more choices in more languages than ever before.

Discover more about our audiobooks offering at Spotify for Authors.

Celebrate Women’s History Month With These Empowering Audiobooks

March 18, 2025

Looking for inspiration this Women’s History Month? Discover the stories of trailblazing women with audiobooks on Spotify. Our Women’s History Month audiobooks hub features several curated playlists, from memoirs of resilience to powerful fiction. Here are six picks to dive into.

I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams

By Jordan Chiles
Narrated by Angel Pean and Jordan Chiles

I’m That Girl is a testament to the power of perseverance. Two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles—who made history last year in Paris as part of the first all-Black podium in men’s and women’s gymnastics—chronicles her path to success, including the joy of winning, the pain of defeat, and the unwavering support of her family and teammates.

The Women: A Novel

By Kristin Hannah
Narrated by Julia Whelan and Kristin Hannah

The Women is a story of courage and sacrifice with nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath at its center. In 1965, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows her brother to Vietnam. Amid the chaos and destruction of war, she forms deep friendships, but faces the real battle coming home to a divided America.

Who’s That Girl?: A Memoir

By Eve
Narrated by Eve

Hip-hop sensation Eve reflects on her rise to stardom, navigating the male-dominated rap industry, and balancing fame with personal struggles. From her groundbreaking debut album in 1999 to winning the inaugural Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Grammy for “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” the artist reveals untold stories behind her legendary career.

I’ll Have What She’s Having

By Chelsea Handler
Narrated by Chelsea Handler

From spiking lemonade at age 10 to outrageous celebrity encounters, Chelsea Handler has never been one to hold back. I’ll Have What She’s Having is full of hilarious and tender stories about her path to becoming the woman she always wanted to be—strong, confident, and unapologetically herself.

Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar

By Cynthia Carr
Narrated by Justin Vivian Bond

Acclaimed biographer Cynthia Carr offers the first full portrait of the queer icon and Warhol superstar Candy Darling. Candy inspired music, posed for famous photographers, and befriended legends. Read by cabaret star Justin Vivian Bond, Candy Darling is laced with Candy’s own words and her friends’ recollections.

Here for the Wrong Reasons

By Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang
Narrated by Mara Wilson and Lindsey Dorcus

In this Bachelor-inspired rom-com from writing and romantic partners Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang, Krystin and Lauren vie for the affection of the same leading man. But neither contestant expects a heteronormative dating show to challenge their own deeply ingrained ideas of who they are—and what they want.

Looking for more captivating tales? Head to our Women’s History Month audiobooks hub.

How Spotify Is Driving Growth, Discovery, and Innovation in the Audiobook Market

March 13, 2025

Spotify took center stage at the London Book Fair this week, reaffirming our commitment to the audiobook market and showcasing our impact on the publishing industry. During a presentation and panel discussion led by Duncan Bruce, Spotify’s Director of Partnerships & Licensing for audiobooks, we highlighted our ongoing efforts in expanding the audiobook ecosystem, attracting new audiences, and driving revenue growth for publishers and authors.

Since launching our audiobooks in Premium offering in 2023, we’ve significantly expanded our catalog: up from 150,000 to 400,000 titles in English-language markets. This growth has been fueled by some of Spotify’s more recent deals with leading publishers like Bloomsbury, Podium, and Crooked Lane Books.

Building on our success in English-language markets, we also expanded our audiobooks offering to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg last year with promising early results.

Attracting new audiences through discovery

Beyond catalog expansion, we’re focused on connecting listeners with audiobooks they’ll love. Unlike traditional credit-based models, Spotify encourages exploration and serendipitous encounters with new authors and genres. To facilitate this discovery, we leverage a blend of human curation and algorithmic recommendations. While algorithms personalize recommendations based on listening history and preferences, our expert editors curate playlists, craft thematic collections, and hand-pick hidden gems to guide listeners on a journey of discovery.

This discovery-driven model is attracting entirely new audiences to the format. In fact, we’ve seen a 30% year-over-year increase in listeners on Spotify in the U.K., the U.S., and Australia. This aligns with Nielsen’s Bookdata for the U.K., which shows that 24% of users who consumed an audiobook in 2024 did so for the first time that year.

In the U.K., the U.S., and Australia, audiobook listening hours on Spotify are up more than 35% year over year. All of this translates to growing revenue for authors and publishers, with Spotify now paying hundreds of millions of dollars to rights holders each year. In the U.S., the Association of American Publishers recently reported that audiobook revenues soared by 23% in 2024, contributing to an overall 6.5% revenue increase for the entire book ecosystem.

What’s old is new again

Our unique approach is also breathing new life into backlist and niche titles. These often-overlooked gems are finding new audiences and generating fresh revenue streams on Spotify, proving that great stories deserve to be heard regardless of their publication dates or genres. Seven of the top 10 audiobooks on Spotify in 2024 in the U.K. were backlist titles, with five of them being more than five years old.

We’re incredibly excited about the future of audiobooks and remain committed to innovation, expansion, and building features that enhance the listening experience for everyone. Audiobooks have the power to transform the way people consume stories, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this revolution.

Head to Spotify to find your next great listen.

Spotify Audiobooks Launches a New Publishing Program for Independent Authors

March 13, 2025

At Spotify, we work every day to lift up new voices, giving creators the opportunity to live off their art. Through Spotify Audiobooks, our in-house publishing imprint, we’ve partnered with various publishers and authors to license and produce hundreds of titles. 

Starting today, Spotify Audiobooks is launching a new website encouraging independent authors to submit short-form stories for audiobook creation and publishing consideration by Spotify. 

“Spotify Audiobooks is thrilled to be opening submissions for short-form content written by independent authors who are as passionate about audiobooks as we are,” said Leah Kleynhans, Spotify Audiobooks Producer. “We know Spotify users will love exploring these intense, bite-sized listens, and expanding our audiobooks catalog in this way gives fans even more choice in the content they love to consume on our platform.”

This is a global program, and any author with an English-language short-form story who controls their own audio rights for that story can submit.

If Spotify chooses to move forward with an author’s submission, Spotify will publish the audiobook, which includes paying an advance and royalties, managing all aspects of production, and distribution to major audiobook retailers.

Looking to submit your own short-form story? Just follow these simple guidelines.

How to submit your story to Spotify Audiobooks

    • Visit our short-form audiobooks site, which contains frequently asked questions and a link to the submission page. 
    • Make sure your story is a novelette of approximately 10,000-20,000 words.
    • Focus on three genres: romance, mystery/thriller, or sci-fi/fantasy. 
      • Cross-genre works like romantasy, dark romance thriller, mystery sci-fi, or psychological thriller are encouraged. 
      • Note: Please do not submit erotica or children’s content.
    • Submissions will be chosen on a rolling basis.

Spotify is committed to lowering the barrier to entry so more authors than ever can have their books heard. As part of this initiative, Spotify is also encouraging independent authors who prefer self-publication to upload existing short-form audiobooks via Findaway Voices. So with Spotify Audiobooks there’s an opportunity to have your book produced by and distributed through Spotify and with Findaway Voices, a way for existing content to reach new fans.

Learn more about the program at our Short-Form Audiobooks website.

Canada’s Own Rupi Kaur Curates the Latest Edition of Local Spot, Revealing the Songs and Artists That Shaped Her

March 11, 2025

For many people, music can serve as a reflection of their roots and upbringing. With Spotify’s playlist series Local Spot, celebrated Canadians are given a cool, eclectic space to introduce fans to their favorite Canadian artists. 

Featuring all-Canadian music curation, Local Spot offers global audiences a glimpse into the unique music tastes of the country’s celebrated figures. For our latest edition of Local Spot, poet, artist, and performer Rupi Kaur takes over as our featured curator. 

A breakout literary phenomenon and number-one New York Times bestselling author, Rupi wrote, illustrated, and self-published her first poetry collection, milk and honey, in 2014, followed by the sun and her flowers, home body, and healing through words. Together, these collections have sold more than 12 million copies and have been translated into more than 40 languages.

Rupi has also made her mark in film and television, producing a first-of-its-kind poetry special, Rupi Kaur Live, the film This Place, and the 2024 Academy Award–nominated film To Kill a Tiger.

For her contribution to Local Spot, Rupi takes listeners on a journey through the songs and artists who inspire her, including Shawn Mendes, Charlotte Day Wilson, The Weeknd, Avril Lavigne, Daniel Caesar, KAYTRANADA, and Celine Dion. Ahead of the playlist’s release, For the Record sat down with Rupi to talk about her experience curating Local Spot, her influences and creative process, and how growing up in Canada has shaped her.

Talk to us about curating Local Spot.

It was so much fun to revisit some of my favorite tracks from the last 15 years or so. I actually felt very at home listening to them and was moved to write. 

In one sentence, how would you describe your playlist?

The songs that raised and healed me. 

What does your Canadian identity mean to you?

As an immigrant, I have always felt like Canada is a place of inclusivity and hope. I have always existed between two worlds—my parents’ homeland and the one we built here. That duality is in everything I write. Now, as I travel the world, I’m often reminded of how much the diversity of Canada has contributed to my art. 

Who are some of your favorite Canadian authors and music artists?

Canadian writers I have deep love for include Michael Ondaatje, Lawrence Hill, Alice Munro. My favorite Canadian music artists are Charlotte Cardin, Charlotte Day Wilson, and The Weeknd. 

What’s your writing process like?

Writing is a conversation with myself. It starts with a feeling—something stirring deep in my gut. I sit with it and let it rise to the surface. My best ideas come when I give them space. They visit in the quiet moments—long walks, in the middle of a conversation, or right before I fall asleep. 

How do you incorporate listening to music into that process?

Music sets the tone and pulls me back into memories of the past or hopes for the future. Sometimes I need silence—to hear the rhythm of the poem itself. But oftentimes I use music to set the mood.  

Do you think there’s a crossover between music and literature?

Absolutely. Both are rhythmic. Both tell stories. A poem is a song stripped of its melody, and a song is a poem brought to life through sound. Before he started his career as a musician, Leonard Cohen was a poet and novelist. That’s just one of many examples that showcase that there’s so much natural crossover between the crafts. 

What writer or music artist has had the biggest influence on you?

Khalil Gibran taught me about duality. Audre Lorde and Bell Hooks taught me about power. In music, I return to Nina Simone, Florence Welch, and the haunting melodies of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Your books milk and honey, the sun and her flowers, and homebody touch on love, loss, trauma, and healing. Is listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks part of a healthy routine for you?

Music, podcasts, books are all part of my healing. Some days, I need a song that holds me. Other days, I need words that remind me I am not alone. 

What does it mean to you to know that your fans get to hear you read your works on the audiobook versions of your books?

I write my poetry with sound in mind—the way the words flow, the rhythm of each line. Hearing me read it aloud brings that element to life. For a reader, poetry is personal and they interpret it through their own lens. For a listener, they hear it the way it was meant to be spoken. 

What’s your earliest memory of stories being read aloud to you?

My father’s voice. He would sit with me and recite Punjabi poetry, letting the words dance in the air between us. He taught me that poetry is meant to be felt, not just understood.

Press play to listen to Rupi’s collection of Canadian gems in the latest edition of Local Spot:

Stories That Shine: Audiobooks and Podcasts To Enjoy This Awards Season

February 28, 2025

Awards season is a celebration of cinematic excellence, but the best stories often start on the page. From a beloved Wizard of Oz retelling to the captivating biopic of a music icon, many of this year’s most lauded films were inspired by books. On Spotify, enjoy the full experience: Immerse yourself in the original stories via audiobooks, then explore podcasts with insightful commentary and behind-the-scenes coverage of the season’s biggest films. Here are some editor-approved picks to begin your journey.

Audiobooks

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

By Gregory Maguire
Narrated by John McDonough
Inspired Best Picture nominee Wicked

As unforgettable as its green-skinned witch, this is the book that inspired the Tony Award–winning hit musical and major motion picture of the same name. Gregory Maguire’s Wicked reimagines the story of one of the most feared and hated characters in all of literature: the Wicked Witch of the West, who, as Maguire tells us, wasn’t nearly as Wicked as we imagined.

Dune: Book One in the Dune Chronicles

By Frank Herbert
Narrated by Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Ilyana Kadushin, and Simon Vance
Inspired Best Picture nominee Dune: Part Two

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune: Book One in the Dune Chronicles follows Paul Atreides, the heir to a noble family caught in a web of treachery that sets him on a journey toward a greater destiny. The Frank Herbert masterpiece combines adventure, mysticism, environmentalism, and politics, making it one of the most influential works in science fiction.

Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties

By Elijah Wald
Narrated by Sean Runnette
Inspired Best Picture nominee A Complete Unknown

On July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan shocked the world at the Newport Folk Festival by playing electric guitar, marking the birth of rock as a cultural force. In Dylan Goes Electric, Elijah Wald offers fresh insights into the night that reshaped popular music, exploring the clash between folk and rock, Dylan’s artistic evolution, and his complex relationship with the folk movement and mentor Pete Seeger.

Discover more books that have sparked films and TV shows on Spotify’s “From book to screen” shelf.

Podcasts

Before Hollywood’s biggest night, catch up on preshow coverage to get the inside track on the season’s most anticipated moments.

The Big Picture

Episode: “The 2025 Alternative Oscars, a.k.a. the 5th Annual Big Picks!”

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins hand out alternative awards for the major categories, plus their own fun picks—the snubbed, the beloved, and more.

Episode: “Final 2025 Oscar Predictions: Who Will Win and Should Win”

Sean and Amanda dive into the latest news on the 2026 movie slate and make their final predictions for the 2025 winners, losers, and everything in between.

The Town with Matthew Belloni

Episode: “Inside Tips to Predict the 2025 Oscar Winners”

Matt Belloni is joined by top talent manager Michael Lasker to sift through the awards season buzz and share tips for finding a gambling edge on the big night.

For post-show coverage, tune back in to The Big Picture and The Town, as well as Ringer Dish for a special episode covering red-carpet reactions and viral surprises.

Spotify Opens Up Support for ElevenLabs Audiobook Content

February 20, 2025

As Spotify continues to roll out audiobooks to new listeners worldwide, we’re committed to providing authors with tools that help them reach those listeners and lowering the barrier to entry so more authors than ever can have their books heard. 

Starting today, we’re excited to begin accepting audiobooks from ElevenLabs, an AI software company that provides easy-to-use, high-quality voice narration technology.

For authors looking for a cost-effective way to create high-quality audiobooks, digital voice narration by ElevenLabs is a great option. Authors can use the ElevenLabs platform to narrate their audiobooks in 29 languages, with complete control over voice and intonation.  

One of our most requested features, now, authors can distribute their ElevenLabs content to Spotify and select other audiobook retailers via Findaway Voices, reaching millions of new listeners and book fans.

How to quickly and easily submit ElevenLabs audiobooks on Spotify

  • After creating their digital voice-narrated audiobook in ElevenLabs, authors simply download the file package and upload to Findaway Voices by Spotify.
  • Following a standard review, the book will go live on Spotify, as well as other retailers that accept digital voice-narrated titles from Findaway Voices.

For listeners, all digitally narrated titles will be clearly marked in the metadata on Spotify and across the other retailers where Findaway Voices distributes. The book description will be prepended with the first sentence stating, “This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.”

We previously announced support for digital voice-narrated content created with Google Play Books, and will continue to find ways for more authors and publishers to make and distribute their audiobook content to Spotify. To learn more, be sure to visit elevenlabs.io.

Celebrate Black History Month With These Captivating Audiobooks

February 18, 2025

February is Black History Month, a time to honor the rich cultural heritage, triumphs, and adversities of the Black community. One powerful way to celebrate is by listening to stories from Black authors. On Spotify, our Black History Month hub includes an audiobooks shelf featuring a range of titles, from compelling narratives to thought-provoking memoirs. Here are five editor-approved picks to begin your journey.

Death of the Author

By Nnedi Okorafor

Narrated by Liz Femi, Anthony Oseyemi, Jason Culp, and Chris Djuma

In this tale by bestselling author Nnedi Okorafor, a disabled Nigerian American woman pens a successful sci-fi novel but loses control of the narrative as her fame rises. It’s a poignant drama about art, identity and, ultimately, what makes us human.

Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds

By Rich Paul with Jesse Washington, foreword by LeBron James

Narrated by Rich Paul and Dennis Logan

As the founder and CEO of Klutch Sports Group, Rich Paul is one of the most influential figures in the multibillion-dollar sports industry. In this memoir—featuring a foreword by long­time friend and client LeBron James—he shares his learnings about business, people, and the values that lead to success.

Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions

By Francesca Royster

Narrated by LaNecia Edmonds

This timely work tells the story of how Black musicians have changed the country music landscape and brought light to Black creativity and innovation. Francesca Royster uncovers the Black performers and fans, including herself, who are exploring the pleasures and possibilities of the genre.

The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose

By Oprah Winfrey

Narrated by Oprah Winfrey, Full Cast

Oprah Winfrey opens each chapter of The Path Made Clear with key lessons and personal stories that helped set the course for her best life. She then brings together wisdom and insights from various luminaries, inspiring listeners to consider what they’re meant to do in the world and how to pursue it with passion and focus.

Good Dirt: A Novel

By Charmaine Wilkerson

Narrated by January LaVoy

Bestselling author Charmaine Wilkerson’s sophomore novel is an engrossing epic that examines how the past informs our present. It follows the daughter of an affluent Black family  as she pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom.

Looking for more inspiring listens? Check out our selection of Black History Month audiobooks on Spotify.

Spotify, The Black List, and The Jed Foundation Team Up To Champion Mental Health in Fiction

February 12, 2025

Stories have the power to change the way we see the world, and when it comes to mental health, the right story can make all the difference. That’s why Spotify is partnering with The Black List, a platform for writers to showcase their projects for industry professionals, and The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide among our nation’s teens and young adults, to launch the Spotify x JED Impact Award—an initiative supporting exceptional depictions of mental health in unpublished fiction.

The Spotify x JED Impact Award will provide five $10,000 grants to recipients with unpublished manuscripts, with the goal of reshaping the conversation around mental health, diversifying mental health narratives in fiction, and promoting positive storytelling around mental health. As part of the initiative, Spotify will cover fee waivers, which will allow up to 140 writers to receive a free month of hosting and a free evaluation on the Black List platform.

“Stories about mental health have immense power to erase stigma and help people get the help that they need,” said Casey Acierno, Social Impact Lead at Spotify. “We’re so excited to partner with The Black List and The Jed Foundation to uplift unpublished manuscripts with meaningful depictions of mental health. Having entered the audiobooks space, Spotify knows the power of storytelling, and we’re thrilled to support writers in looking after themselves and the way they write about mental health.”

Supporting mental health through storytelling

This initiative underscores Spotify’s commitment to both creators and consumers, recognizing the power of storytelling to humanize mental health and foster understanding. In addition to supporting the creation of powerful new literature, we’re also working to amplify existing mental health audiobooks on our platform.

“Narratives in fiction can have a very real impact on our mental health—helping shape how we see ourselves, perceive our place in the world, navigate challenges, and discover possibilities for healing and growth,” said Courtney Knowles, Senior Media Advisor for The Jed Foundation. “JED and I are proud to partner on this initiative, celebrating and inspiring unpublished novels that entertain while creating connection and fostering emotional well-being.”

Beyond the grants, Spotify is offering additional resources for authors, including:

    • A mental health resource hub: Developed in collaboration with JED, the hub provides support both for writing about mental health and for writers’ own mental well-being. Resources include:
    • 1:1 consulting with JED for awardees: Providing personalized support and guidance.
    • Programming and content focused on authors’ mental well-being: Addressing the unique challenges faced by writers and offering support for their mental health journeys.

“The Spotify Social Impact team and The Jed Foundation are important stewards of intentional programming with meaningful impact. I’m thrilled to be partnering with them on this initiative to amplify exceptional depictions of mental health in unpublished fiction,” said Randy Winston, Creative Director of Fiction at The Black List. “Storytelling and mental health go hand in hand. Through powerful conversations, this partnership will raise awareness and empower writers at all levels to prioritize their well-being.”

Submit your story

Submissions are now open on The Black List’s website and will close on July 8, 2025. Authors can submit their English-language manuscripts globally. A judging panel featuring experts from Spotify, The Black List, and JED, along with soon-to-be-announced notable authors, will select the five winning manuscripts.

Award recipients will be announced on October 10, 2025 (World Mental Health Day). For more details on eligibility and the application process, visit the submission page.

Spotify Partners With Crooked Lane and Alcove Press To Bring More Mystery and Crime Audiobooks

February 6, 2025

Our aim is to bring great audiobooks to as many people as possible, and we’re glad to give book fans more options as they discover their next great listens. Spotify Audiobooks—our in-house audiobook publishing imprint—has entered into an exclusive audiobook publishing partnership with Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press, a leading publisher spanning commercial fiction genres and select nonfiction. 

Under the partnership, Spotify Audiobooks will publish titles from Crooked Lane and Alcove’s frontlist catalogs beginning March 2025. Titles will be distributed widely on Spotify via Spotify’s Audiobooks in Premium offering and available to purchase a la carte, as well as across more than 30 other digital retail and library channels. 

“Crooked Lane is thrilled. Spotify’s position as both a distributor and audiobook publisher plus their innovative approach make them the ideal partner,” said Matthew Martz, publisher at Crooked Lane and Alcove. “With over hundreds of millions of paid subscribers, we’re confident that Spotify will bring our books to new listeners. Spotify has done great work with our titles, and we know our authors are in the best possible hands.”

Spotify Audiobooks and Crooked Lane have partnered previously on multiple audio titles, including The Darkest Night edited by Lindy Ryan, I’ve Got My Mind Set on Brew by Stephanie Jayne, and A Dream in the Dark by Robert Justice. 

“We are so excited to kick off 2025 with such an important partnership,” Henna Silvennoinen, Associate Manager of Audiobooks at Spotify, said. “We’ve admired Crooked Lane’s catalog for years. Their strong commercial stories will appeal to listeners on Spotify and beyond, and this is just the beginning. We believe that partnering will elevate Crooked Lane and Spotify’s publishing to a whole new level.”